Crazy ant: everything you need to know about the insect that has infested several areas of Spain

The alarm went off Catalonia due to the invasion of some areas of Barcelona crazy ant (Paratrechina longa). Some media talk about it as a novelty in our country, but the truth is that this insect is already well known, both on the peninsula and on the islands. It is an invasive animal, capable of entering other people’s habitats, and it demonstrates this again with its latest invasion of Spanish territory, but this is certainly not the first time it has done this.

In 2021, the plague was discovered in Barcelona port. He was accompanied by another species, Lepisiota melas, which was indeed a novelty, since he had never been seen before in The Iberian Peninsula. Since both species could behave like pests, a port cleanup was carried out which was supposed to eliminate both ant species, but clearly this did not work with the crazy ant.

It had already been seen in other parts of Spain before. For example, pests were found in the Canary Islands in 1987 and 2007, in Almeria in 2000, in the Balearic Islands in 2006, in Gibraltar in 2007, in Malaga in 2008 and in Cordoba in 2013. Now they are back in Barcelona and it would not be unusual to see it in other parts of our country because this ant survives very well, able to adapt to all types of habitat. The good part is that its name does not come from the fact that it is an aggressive species, but rather from its unsteady gait, which makes its identification especially easy. On the other hand, the disadvantage is its greater ability to form pests in both agricultural and urban environments.

Crazy Ant Rapid Expansion

It is not entirely clear what the origin of the crazy ant is. It is believed that they may be endemic Africa or Asia. The problem is that they have spread so quickly to other parts of the world that it is difficult to determine where their first home is. They can be found in northern Sweden and southern New Zealand. At all these points they are considered invasive species. That is, species with such adaptability that they can displace native species by competing with them for environmental resources.

It should also be noted that there is some confusion with the name, as other species are known as crazy ants. This is, for example, the case Paratrechina fulva, originally from Brazil. For this reason, some experts have suggested renaming P. longicornis How long-horned antbut the name has not yet caught on.

Because of her clumsy gait, it is difficult to call her anything else, although, it is true, she large antennas They would more than live up to another name. Their feet are also large, which further enhances the sensation of fast but erratic movements.

Large pests

We have already seen that the crazy ant It is not dangerous for the population.. It does not bite and is not poisonous. But this is a big headache due to the ability to adapt to and reproduce in any environment. In fact, they live perfectly well in artificial environments such as boats. It is for this reason that they are expanding so quickly, especially through the transport of goods.

Once in a new place, they look for food that suits them best and build nests. In the field they can feed on both. nectar and molasses like others insects, dead or alive. But, without a doubt, one of their favorite foods is the leftover juices secreted by aphids. This turns a crazy ant into crop risk, well, it’s not a pest per se, but an aphid. Because of their tendency to use what they don’t eat, aphid, they take the opportunity to transport them from one crop to another and, in addition, protect them from possible predators. They become his bodyguards, but for their own benefit.

Ants are everywhere

In urban environments, it uses leftover food from people and pets. A case that exemplifies how problematic they can be was reported in 1977. North LauderdaleIn the United States, the infestation was so widespread that, since it could not be eradicated, the only remaining option was to store student lunches in sealed bags. Additionally, the desk legs were placed in bowls of water to repel ants, just like in a castle moat.

Considering They go very far from their nests When they go out in search of food, they are difficult to detect and therefore destroy the ants in the bud. All this gives the crazy ant a headache. But even with a charming, charming animal, one does not take away the other.